Grease retainer



C. E. PITTINGER. GREASE RETAINER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I3, I920.

Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

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C E. PITTINGEH. GREASE RETAINER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 13. 19201 Fa'tented N0 251 1922,

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Patented Nov. 28, was.

UNHTEZ L CHARLES E. PITTENGER, OF FALLS CITY,

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or ONE-HALF To arasror NEBRASKA. A

BLAINE cocoons, or rams omit. NEBRASKA;

'mnasn Application filed 13,

An important object of this invention is to provide novel means whereby the grease plug and consequently the grease in the bearing end of: the side rod of a locomotive may be prevented from loss due to the reciprocation of the rod.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which may be readily and conveniently ap.

plied to the side rodsot a locomotive without necessitating any changes in the construction of the side rods or without interfering with the operation of the same and whichlnay also be'removed without inconvenience when it is desired to repair the side rod.

'A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which is of highly simplified construction, durable in use, and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a, part of this application and in which like numerals are enn'iloyed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective of the device applied. the cover thereof being shown open,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device applied,

Figure 3 is a central vertical sectional. view through the device applied,

, Figure 4: is a horizontal section taken on the line of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective of the device, the view illustrating a slightly modified form of base plate.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodi merit-of the invention, the numeral 10 generally designates one of the side rods of a locomotive havino a hearing 12 which is 1920. Serial No. 895,977.

supplied with grease uircagiia pas or channel 14 in theh ead l of the li mg.

.'As illustrated in Figure 3 of the dr wings, thehea-d is provided with an interiorlv threaded grease pocket or reservoir ll; with which the grease passage 14 comniunicates so that the grease contained within the pocket 16 may be supplied to the bearing 12. litre grease pocket or reservoir receives lireadcd bushing li' havi'n polygonal, head 18 adapted to be engaged by a wrench so that the bushing ma y be applied or renmved by threading the same into the podlcct. An annular shoulder :20. termed on the bushing serves as a. means for limit ing the inward movement oi the same. The grease within the pocket lti may be forced through the channel ll by screwing up on a grease retaining plug 22 having a polyg= onal h aid 2% adapted to be engi'iged by a suitable wrench.

Due to the rapid movement or IQVlPPOCh tion of the side rod 10 during the travel of the locomotive, the grease plug 22 tre= quently becomes lost and consequentlyallows the grease within the bushing to also become lost. This loss of the grease or lubricant within the bushing allows the bearing to run hot with the result that the bearing is soon rendered useless and can be replaced only at the expenditure of much time and new material. i

To overcome the above dilliculty, I have devised a protector 26 which consists of a base plate 28 having a centrally arranged opening to receive the attaching portion of the bushing 17 so that when the bushing is screwed tothe limit of its movement into the pocket 16, the base plate 28 will be held firmly in position. The base plate 28 is only slightly larger than the bushing and therefore occupies but a minimum amount of space and does not in any way interfere with the operation of the rod or the supplying of grease to the bearing of the same. A hollow casing 30 is adapted to be, arranged over the grease plug 22 so as to prevent the same from becoming accidentally disconnected from the bushing 17 and said casing-is provided with a reinforcing plate 32formed with a lateral extension 34 which is hingedly connected to the plate 28 by means of a hinge pin 36 extending through alined hinge lugs 38 .in the plate and the extension 34, When it, is desired 5 $1!- tirely detach the casing 30 from the plate 28, it is merely necessary to remove the pin 36 extending through the hinge lugs 38 and subsequently remove the casing. \vardly extending portion CH of the reinforcing plate 32 is braced by a strap 39 es:- tending t'rom the plate to the extension 34.- and secured to the same by fastening devices in the form of rivets or the like.

The casing 30, which is of hexagonal tormation snugly and slidably receives a plate 42 pressed into engagement with the grease plug :22 by a coil spring 43. The end portions of the coil spring 43 are flared or enlarged and are connected to the plate and to the inner end of the casing by means of rivets 43. In flaring or enlarging the end portions of the coil spring the same are caused to bear flatly against the asing and the pressure plate 42 and thereby prevent the spring from collapsing.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the pressure plate 42 bears flatly against the upper end of the plu .22 and thereby prevents the plug trom being lost during the operation oi the locon'iotive.

The means employed tor detachably positioning the casing 30 over the grease plug 32 comprises a substantially U-shaped yoke 4-8 having arms flared outwardly at their end portions and secured to the sides of the casing by means of rivets 47 or the like. guiding bracket or plate 48 is arrangei'l between the sides ot the yoke and slidably receives a plunger 50 which is adapted to be extended through an apertured ear 52 extended up tromthe base plate and disposed between the sides of the yoke 46. As illustrated particularly in Figures 3 and 4, a coil spring 54 is confined between the bight portion of the U-shaped yoke and a collar 56 arranged on the plunger and said coil spring serves as a means for urging the plunger forwardly through the apertured ear 5 The outer end portion of the plunger 50 is formed with a looped handle 58 by means of which the plunger may be released from its connection with the apertured ear 52.

In applying the improved proteetor the base plate 28 is arranged upon the head 15 so that the bushing 17 when applied will. secure the same firmly in position. After the bushing and the grease plug 22 have been secured to the plate as illustrated in Figure 3, the casing may be swung over thr The rearplug so that the pressure plate 42 will be flatly engaged with the plug.

Of course, the plunger 50 is retracted pre paratory to swinging the casing 30 over the plug and is subsequein'ily released so that plunger may pass through the apertured ear t It will be noted that the spring presses the plate 42 firmly into engagement with the plug so that the plug is abrolutelyprevented tron-i loss.- A. further f nction of the coil spring H is to prevent the casing and asso ciated parts from rattling since the spring exerts a constant outward pressure on the casing and thereby firmly engages the forward portion of the plunger wit-h the apertured ear ln the form oi the invention illustrated in Figure 5. the plate 25 is termed with el0ngated hinge barrels (50 between w ich the cylindrical hinge barrel of the extension 3% is adapted to be arranged so that a hinge pin (3'12 may be extended. through the alined barrels. The plate is, in this invention. thus connected to the extension so as to be capable oi a sliding movement with relation to the same. 'lherelore. should the grease plug or retainer 'J-i be unusually large the casing 30 may be moved laterally when swung to an open position. i

lVhen it is desired to repair the rod, it is merely necessary to remove the casing by detaching the hinge pin 36. if desired, the plate 28 may be connected to the head 12 by means of screw bolts or other suitabie means.

it is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same and that such minor changes may be made as will remain within the spirit; oi the invention and the scope i claimed.-

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

A device of the character deser'hed including a base plate provided with an upstanding apertured ear, a casing hingediy connected to the base plate, locking means Within the casing to coact with a plug for holding the plug against displacement, a yoke extending laterally from the casing, and a spring pressed plunger slidable upon the yoke to coact with said ear for securing the lasing closed.

lo testimony whrreol 5 Milt my sagnaturc. 

